Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-11-11
IDAHO.
Its Wonderful Progress i'm
Population and Wealth
i'm Two Years.
An Interview with MIR. A. II.
Parker, of Grangeville. Ida
no COunty--.A Good Poor
Mans COuntry---Plenty
OF Room for All.

A. F. Parker, the well-known Idaho
journalist, is in the city, and gave an
Oregonidn reporter much information
concerning the growth of that territory.
Mr.. Parker is now conducting the FREE
Press, published at Grangevile, in Ida
no county, which is the largest county
in the territory, being 200 miles from
east to west, and an equal distance from
north to south. Its present population
is about 1000. Idaho county embraces
the largest UNEMPLOYED area in the
ducements to immigrants, prospectors
and fortune-seekers generally. The
great Camas prairie, where Mr.. Parker
il located, is the largest and best body
Of agricultural land mall Idaho, and is
rapidly settling up with thrifty class of
immigration. This prairie lies on the
s,low divide between the Salmon and
Clearwater mines, sixty miles southeast
of Lewiston. Its northern slope forms
part of the Nez Perez Indian reservation
aud initial steps for settling the Indians
on severalty tracts thereon and throw
ing the residue of the unoccupied lands
on the market for white settlement are
already being taken. The Northern
Pacific railroad company are maturing
plans to tap this region and add it to
their railroad system by line of steam
ers to run between Ainsworth and Lew
iston, and a narrow guage railroad from
Lewiston to Camas prairie, which. when
completed, will vastly stimulate the
productive capacity of that fertile sec
ton. Mr.. Parker is intimately acquainS
ted with the resources of the Pacific
northwest, and expresses himself to the
effect that notwithstanding its present
better inducements to home seekers
than the great Camas prairie. On
account of the large extent of unoccu-
pied government agricultural lands the
price of improved farms in Idaho coun-
ty is remarkably low, and the newcomer
With small means will find it the best
and most economical plan to purchase
home from those who have used their
land rights for speculative purposes.
Many desirable farms in choice locali
ties can thus be bought, together with
the Improvements thereon, for very little
money. The climate is good, the tenn
perature being modified by the warm
air rising from the canyons of the great
rivers which enclose it, while the warm
breath of the never failing Chinook
cause the open winters which make it
such an unexcelled cattle raising coun-
try. During the last winter, which was
of exceptional severity everywhere, the |
loss of live stock running on the range |
without feed did not exceed y per cent. |
The principal industries of Idaho coun- |
ty are stock raising, farming and min
ing. It's society is good the people are |
intelligent, hospitable, orderly and
thrifty. The county Jail has not had an
inmate for fourteen months. A COM
plete system of road and scool districts
are in operation, and the other rein
ny means of civilization are being rapid
y introduced, so that immigrants are no
onger compelled to undergo the hard
hips and vlcissitudes which have here
oIore fallen to the lot of the pioneer.
With cheap land, climate unsurpassed
Or healthfuluess, winters short and not
evereiy cold, and uniform excellence
4 soil capable uf craving All abundance
{ Ut all the products OF the farm and
arden, abundance of timber, plenty OF
unning wafer and never fdi ing springs
nd back ground of rndeveloped min
raj wealth Tor future supply, Camas
rairie is certainly worth the attention
those seeking homes in the interior.
Stock raising is the principal industry,
very farmer having more or less cattle
nd horses which run on the range the
ear round without feed. the native
rasses grow luxuriantly and cattle
lrive upon them, while the bunch
rass OF the adjacent canyons Is reserved
" winter pastnrage. A great deal of
looded horned stock has been impor-
ID there of Ii t and the principa,
ockmen have herds of Ialloways
Shortborns and other grades
cattle With which To improve the
alive herds. Tie soil is wonderfully
rifle, producing one and one half tons
timothy to the acre every year for ten
Ears, while thirty-fve pound cabbage
sads, six pound potatoes and other
ammoth garden truck are so frequent
to excite no comment. All kinds OF ,
nit thrive there, even seedlings hav- |
z been found to grow and yield enor-
ously, although the warm canyons of !
e Salmon and Clearwater rivers are {